Hi All, In regards to HIV patients and pets, it is my understanding that they cannot have cats due to their immune deficiency. I saw this somewhere on the net, but cannot at this point remember where. I do know that I have metatstatic malignant melanoma stage IV and due to my repressed immune system I am allowed a dog that does not have fur..i.e. a poodle and my oncologist allowed me to have the ferret also. One of the problems with the cat is their litter box and the diseases they carry in their feces. Ferrets do not carry these same diseases. I just have to be really careful that if Bozlo were to get the flu or a cold I do not catch it from him. Since he only sees my husband and I regularly, this is not a problem so far. I do know that cancer and HIV have many of the same attributes and am sure this is why they are to be very careful in picking their pets. Chrystal My email: [log in to unmask] My webpage: http://www.pe.net/~chrystal/ Dan Wrote: >...Also, I remember reading an article a long time ago about why ferrets >are better pets than cats for people with HIV/AIDS. ... [Posted in FML issue 2174]